Nonrefillable bottle closure



T. F. KOLTS NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE CLosURE Filedy 061'.. 28, 1937 imn Patented Nov. 14, 1939 iE'l' GFFICE Tennies F. Kolts, Chicago,

Ill., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Warren Buckley, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 28, 1937, Serial No. 171,429

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a nonrellable bottle closure.

This invention is an improvement over the invention shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 145,728, filed June 1, 1937, on a Nonrefillable bottle closure.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved nonrefillable bottle closure which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction lo and efficient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nonrellable closure for bottles and analogous containers for preventing the fraudulent refilling of bottles, especially liquor bottles,

if; by the methods now in use for effecting such fraudulent refilling and which methods include exhausting the contents of the bottle by means oi a vacuiun pump and then submerging the exhausted bottle in the liquor with which it is desired to reilll the bottle, whereupon, by reason o the vacuum, or partial vacuum, in the bottle the latter will be rapidly refilled with the liquor, thus accomplishing the fraudulent object such as substitution of an inferior quality of liquor or avoiding the payment of internal revenue tax on the same.

It is an important object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved non-refillable container closure which is s@ especiallyT adapted for use on liquor bottles and the like for preventing fraudulent relling of the same for the purpose of evading the internal revenue tax thereon or for other fraudulent purposes, such as the substitution of an inferior quality oi liquor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle closure which is nonrellable by any of the known methods of fraudulently relling liquor bottles such as the vacuum-submergence method and partial submerg-ence by hand which may be resorted to in an attempt to relill a bottle by partially submerging the same in the liquor or other liquid so as to leave the mouth of the closure partially open for the escape f air from the body of the bottle.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved non-rella-ble bottle closure which is so constructed that it will enable liquid to be poured from the bottle 50 to which it is attached as soon as the bottle is placed or held in horizontal position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved non-rellable bottle closure which embodies a ball-actuated valve and a retaining cage for the said ball which is soI constructed that regardless of how slight the angle, at which the neck of the bottle is tilted above the horizontal, may be the ball will act on the valve to clos-e the same as long as the neck of'the bottle is inclined very slightly t0- ward the body of the bottle; that is, even though the bottle is held in such a manner that the neck of the same is inclined at only a very slight angle upwardly from the horizontal (and inclined downwardly toward the body of the bottle), th-e ball will nevertheless operate on the valve to close the same and thus prevent the bottle from being fraudulently reiilled by partially submerging the same by hand or otherwise in a body of liquor or other liquid.

A further object of the invention is to construct. the new nonrellable bottle closure in such a manner that when the same is in position of use upon the neck of a bottle the latter may be held in such a position that if the neck of the bottle is tilted at only a very slight angle above the horizontal (and inclined downwardly toward the body of the bottle), the bottle may then be rotated through a complete revolution or 360 and the ballwill at all times operate on the Valve to close the 'same and thus prevent fraudulent refilling of the bottle by holding the same partially submerged at any point throughout the said revolution or 360.

Another object of th-e invention is to construct the new non-rellable bottle closure in such a manner that when it is mounted on the neck of a bottle the main axis and center line of the closure casing and ball-retaining cage will extend at an acute angle relative to the vertical axis and center of the neck of the bottle whereas.

, the main axis and center line of the valve housing and valve will extend parallel to, and will be coincidental with, the main axis and center line of the neck of the bottle.

It may be observed, in this connection, that research and investigation have disclosed that in order to rell conventional bottles by submarging the same in a liquid the bottle must be tilted in such a manner that the main axis and center line of the neck of the bottle are at least 12 from the horizontal, that is, downwardly toward the body of the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to construct the closure casing which is embodied in the new closure in such a manner that it Will not dribble during the pouring operation, that is, in such a manner that the stream of liquor or other liquid being poured therefrom will pour Without dribbling, thus preventing loss of the liquid and avoiding spilling of the same.

An additional object of the present invention is to construct one form of the same in such a manner that any possibility of the valve-actuating ball becoming entrapped in its cage, that is, failing to move back into Valve-closing position when the bottle to which the closure is attached is tilted upwardly from horizontal, pouring position, is eliminated.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter' described and claimed.

The invention Will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a central Vertical sectional View showing a preferred form of the new nonrellable bottle closure attached to the neck ofa conventional bottle, only part of which bottle neck is shown, and showing the new closure in the position in which it is arranged when the bottle to `which it is attached is in upright or vertical position;

Fig. 2 is agcentral vertical sectional View of the preferred form of the new bottle closure which is shown in Fig. 1 but showing the same in so-called pouring position, that is, with the neck of the bottle in horizontal position and with the valve of the new closure in open position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on line `33 in Fig. 1, illustrating part of the construction of the Valve housing;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the various parts which are embodied in the form of the invention Which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the valve housing which is embodied in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5.

A preferred form of the new nonreflllable bottle closure is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is therein generally indicated at I0, and is shown as being attached or coupled to the neck I I of a bottle of conventional design; this coupling being effected by means of a coupling ring I2 which has an upper end portion I3 embedded in the wall of the closure housing or casing Ii. This cou-l pling ring I2 also has a convexly inwardly extending bead I5 which is formed in, and projects into, a correspondingly shaped groove I6 which is formed in the neck II of the bottle. This coupling arrangement may, of course, be varied but the form of the same shown is well suited for the purpose intended.

The closure casing I4 has an internally threaded open upper end I'I and detachably attached to the interiorly threaded neck I'I of the same is a pouring outlet I8 in which a closure plug I9 may be inserted. However, other types of caps, corks or Stoppers may be used, if desired.

The preferred form of the new nonreillable closure which is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, includes a Valve housing 20 which is provided, at its normally lower end, with an inlet opening 2I this valve housing 20 also being provided with a valve seat 22 which is formed, in effect, as the vaxially inner peripheral wall of the inlet opening It will be noted (Figs. 1 and 4) that in order to mount the valve housing 20 in position of use the same is provided with a peripheral flange 23 which is mounted on the upper edge of the bottle neck II, this flange 23 being partially inserted into a groove 2li which is formed in the wall of the closure casing I4.

Arranged in the valve housing 2D, and normally disposed upon the valve seat 22, is a valve element 25, and normally urging this valve element 25 into closed position is a ball 26 which is preferably non-metallic. The ball 26 is confined in position of use by a ball-retaining cage, which is generally indicated at 2, and which, in effect, forms an extension of the valve housing 2. this cage 2l including a peripheral flange 28 which, in use, is mounted upon a plurality of upward extensions or pegs 29 which are formed as a part of the wall of the valve housing 20.

The body of the valve housing 20 is, generally, cylindrical in shape, and it has on its inner surface a series of circumferentially spaced ribs 28a in which the valve element 25 is guided.

The ball-retaining cage 2l includes a substantially frusto-conically shaped upper end portion which includes a transverse top or end wall 30 and an inclined upper side wall 3l.

It will be noted that in the present invention the main axis and center line of the closure casing It, outlet opening 22, and ball-retaining cage 2 are inclined at an angle of approximately 35 from the main axis and center line of the bottle neck II, valve housing 20, valve element 25, and inlet opening 2 I, and that the main axis and center line of the valve housing 25 and valve element 25 are coincidental with, and extend parallel to, the main axis and center line of the bottle neck I3 and the body of the bottle. It will also be noted that the side wall 3l of the ballretaining cage 2l is inclined at an angle of approximately 30 from the main axis and center line of the valve housing 2i! and bottle neck I4, and that the inner surface 33 (Fig. 2) of the side wall of the ball-retaining cage 2l is inclined at an angle of ve `degrees (5) from the horizontal axis and center line of the valve housing 20, valve element 25, and bottle neck II when the latter is disposed in horizontal or pouring position (as in Fig. 2).

Formed in the side Wall 32 of the closure casing I4, on the inner surface thereof, is a series of ribs 34 which space the ange 28 of the ballretaining cage 21 from the inner surface of the closure casing Iii so that liquid may pour between the ribs 34.

The operation of the preferred form of the into 4, inclusive, is mounted, it is merely necessaryl to turn the same through ninety degres (90), that is, from the upright or vertical position in vwhich it is shown in Fig. 1 into the horizontal position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the ball 26 will run out of the valve hous- J ing 20 into the ball-retaining cage 2 and thence down onto the inclined lower surface 33 of the side wall of the same, thereby allowing the valve 25 to slide down the Valve housing 20 and into open position, whereupon liquid will pour from:

urging the said valve into position to close the said liquid-conducting passage, the main or "longitudinal axis and center line of the said closure casing, outlet opening, and ball-retaining cage being inclined at an acute angle from the vertical axis and center line of the bottle neck when the closure casing is mounted thereon and the main or longitudinal axis and center line of the said valve and valve housing being coincidental with the vertical axis and center of the said bottle neck, the said ball-retaining cage including a side wall having an inner` surface inclined at an angle of approximately ve degrees (5) from the horizontal axis and center line of the bottle neck, when the latter is in horizontal position and the said closure is mounted thereon, and in a direction toward the said outlet opening.

5. A nonrefillable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing adapted to be attached to a bottle and having an outlet opening, a valve housing in the said casing having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve member in the said valve housing, a ball-retaining cage upon said valve housing, a ball in said ball-retaining cage normally urging the said valve member into closed position, said weight-retaining cage including a wall inclined downwardly from its inner end toward its outer end at an acute angle from the horizontal axis of said bottle neck when said bottle neck is in a substantially horizontal position, and said wall being adapted to support the said weight thereon when the said bottle neck is in a substantially horizontal position.

6. A nonreflllable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing in the said casing having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said valve housing, said valve housing having a ballretaining cage thereon, a ball in the said cage and the said ball normally urging the said valve into closed position, the main axis and center line of the said Valve, valve housing, and inlet opening being coincidental with each other and the main axis and center line of the said closure casing, outlet opening, and ball-retaining cage being coincidental with each other and inclined at an acute angle from the vertical axis and center line of the said valve, valve housing and inlet opening, the said ball-retaining cage including a side wall inclined downwardly at an acute angle from the horizontal when the said closure is disposed in horizontal or pouring position.

'7. A nonreiillable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing arranged within the said closure casing and having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said valve housing, a ballretaining cage on the said valve housing, and a ball in said cage normally urging the said valve into closed position, the main axis and center line of the said valve, Valve housing, ball-retaining cage and inlet opening extending at an acute angle relative to the main axis and center line of the said outlet opening and closure casing, said ball-retaining cage including an annular side Wall inclined at an angle of approximately thirty degrees (30) from the main axis and center line of the said valve, Valve housing, and inlet opening.

8. A nonrellable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing arranged within the said closure casing and having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said housing, a ball-retaining cage on the said valve housing, a ball in the said cage and the said ball normally urging the said valve into closed position, the main axis and center line of the said closure casing, outlet opening and ball-retaining cage being coincidental with each other and extending at an acute angle from the main axis and center line of the said valve,

valve housing and inlet opening, the said valve.

housing having upwardly extending projections formed on the upper` surface thereof, said projections extending axially of the said Valve housing and being spaced circumferentially therearound and having the said ball-retaining cage mounted thereon.

9. A nonreiillable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing in the said casing having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said valve housing, a ball-retaining cage in the said closure casing, and a ball in the said cage normally urging the said valve into closed position, said valve housing having a series of circumferentially spaced projections on the upper surface thereof, said ball-retaining cage having a peripheral flange at its lower end and the said flange being mounted upon the said projections.

l0. A nonrellable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing in the said casing having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said valve housing, a ball-retaining cage in the said closure casing, and a ball in the said cage normally urging the said valve into closed position, said valve housing having a series of circumferentially spaced. projections on the upper surface thereof, said ball-retaining cage having substantially the form of a truncated cylinder, and said ballretaining cage having a peripheral flange at its lower end and the said flange being mounted upon the said projections.

11. A nonrellable bottle closure, comprising a closure casing having an outlet opening, a valve housing in the said casing having an inlet opening at its lower end and provided with an outlet into the said closure casing, a valve in the said valve housing, a ball-retaining cage in the said closure casing, and a ball in the said cage normally urging the said valve into closed position, said valve housing having a series of circumferentially spaced projections on the upper surface thereof, said ball-retaining cage having a peripheral flange at its lower end and the said flange being mounted on the said projections, the said ball-retaining cage having substantially the form of a truncated cylinder and including a side wall having a substantially straight lower portion and an end and the upper portion extending at an angle relative to the said lower portion.

TENN'IES F. KOLTS. 

